Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 19.6.1

19.6.1

'The country, in certain parts,' he added, 'produces excellent fruit, particularly melons, but the winters are most severe, because of the deep snows.' The inhabitants heretofore were Gentiles, but the great majority have become Mahometan, as well as himself; of the sect of the Chias, which is that of all Persia. He spoke also of the attempt made by Chah-Jehan, seventeen or eighteen years ago, to conquer Great Tibet, a country frequently invaded by the Kings of Kachemire. The army, after a difficult march of sixteen days through the mountains, besieged and took a fortress, which threw the inhabitants into such consternation that the conquest of the kingdom would no doubt have been completed if the army had immediately crossed a certain celebrated and rapid river, and marched boldly to the capital city. The season, however, was advanced, and the governor of Kachemire, who commanded the troops, apprehending he might be overtaken by the snow, determined to retreat. He placed a garrison in the fortress just captured, intending to resume the invasion of the country early in the spring; but that garrison most strangely and unexpectedly evacuated the castle, either through fear of the enemy, or from want of provisions, and Great Tibet escaped the meditated attack that had been deferred to the next spring. That kingdom being threatened with war by Aureng-Zebe, the King despatched an ambassador when informed of the Mogol's arrival in Kachemire.